Lcnrt-C 

7 

I  asm. 


Duke  University  Libraries 

Circular  / 
Conf  Pam  12mo  #761 


CIRCULAR. 


CONFEDERATE    STATES   OF   AMERICA, 

\\    \li     lMl'ARTMKNT, 

Richmond,  Va.%  December  10,  1863. 

The  following  additional  instructions  arc  published  for  the  information 
end  guidance  of  medical  officers  and  employed  physicians  on  conscript 
dut.v  : 

J.  AttentioB  is  urgently  called  to  the  requirement*  of  General  Orders, 
No.  22,  in  connection  with  section  1.  paragraph  [V,  of  which  it  is  further 
required,  that  in  all  cases  of  debility,  the  cause  to  which  it  is  attributable, 
or  upon  which -it  is  eonsequent,  be  cl<  sely  Investigated  as  to  its  temporary 
or  permanent  nature,  and  that  this  cause  be  si  (  forth  in  all  certifieate1*  and 
reports  required  from  Medical  Boards  foV  tin  examination  of  conscripts. 

2.  In  rheumatism,  not  only  its  duration,  and  its  nature,  whether  acute 
or  chronic,  articular  or  muscular,  must  1"'  determuied  and  designated, 
hut  also  whether  there  be  swelling,  contraction  of  the  joints,  waste  of 
tissues,  or  any  accompanying 

;t.  Very  many  dyspepti  :s  air  benefited,  if  not  entirely  relieved  by  the 
change  id'  life,  and  tin'  active  duties  of  a  soldier  in  the  field.  Dyspepsia, 
therefore,  ooless  of  an  extremely  aggravated  character,  and  accompanied 
with  much  emaciation  and  debility,  is  not  accept' d  as  authority  for  ex- 
emption. 

4.  Large  numbers  of  the  subjects  of  urethral  stricture,  as  a  general 
rule,  perform,  and  arc  capable  of  performing  the  active  duties  of  civil  and 
military  life.  This,  their,  unless  of  an  aggravated  character,  will  not  bo 
recognised  as  a  cause  for  exemption. 

f>.  The  mere  determination  and  announcement  of  the  existence  of  such 
diseases  as  scrofula,  hepatitis,  spinal  irritation  ami  cachexia,  do  not  war- 
rant exemption:  their  special  seat,  degree  of  development,  and  the  con- 
sequent disqualifying  condition,  as  well  as  the  general  state  of  the  sys- 
tem, must  be  disii  raid  ami  intelligibly  reported. 

li.  In  cases  of  atrophy  of  the  limbs,  definite  and  satisfactory  explana- 
tions must  be  made  as  to  its  cause,  exteut,  and  the  accompanying  loss  of 
power. 

7.   In  tuberculosis,  the  extent  of  the  disease  should,  as  far  as  practica- 


ble,  be  diagnosed,  and  full  statements  made  as  to  the  lose  of  flesh,  and 
other  prominent  symptoms. 

8.  Whenever  discernible,  in  all  cases  not  accepted,  the  degree  or  extent, 
and  the  seat  and  duration  of  the  existing  disability  should  be  distinctly 
set  forth. 

9.  All  cases,  of  which  the  decision  is  doubtful,  according  to  instruc- 
tions herein  published,  or  now  in  force,  concerning  special  diseases,  will 
be  decided  upon  the  following  principle,  viz: 

When  a  conscript  is  found  equal  to,  or  in  the  performance  of  the  active 
duties  of  the  various  occupations  of  civil  life,  he  is  able  to  discharge  the 
duties  of  a  soldier. 

10.  Conscripts  previously  examined  and  reported,  on  bciug  again  en- 
tered on  the  Record  of  Conscripts,  will  be  noted  "  Re-examination." 

11.  When  an  exemption  is  only  temporary,  it  will  be  distinctly  noted 
in  the  Monthly  Record  of  Conscripts  as  a  "temporary  exemption ;"  and 
the  terms  "  furloughi-d"  and  " discharged"  will  not  be  used  therein,  or 
in  certilieates,  instead  of,  or  in  the  place  of  the  terms  temporarily  ex- 
empted, and  exempted. 

12.  Members  of  the  Examining  Hoards  are  prohibited  from  recommend- 
ing furloughs  to  conscripts.  In  connection  with  this  prohibition,  their 
attention  is  called  to  paragraph  I,  General  Orders,  No.  135,  current  series, 
here  quoted  for  their  information,  viz: 

•  "I.  Recruiting  officers  and  others  are  forbidden  to  grant  permits  to 
conscripts  or  deserters,  allowing  them  to  visit  their  homes,  or  to. remain 
there  fox  any  purpose.  The  notice  already  given  conscripts  is  deemed 
sufficient,  and  deserters  aie  not  entitled  to  indulgence." 

13.  The  concluding  clause  of  paragraph  XI,  General  Orders,  No.  39, 
current  series,  Adjutant  and  Inspector  General's  office,  prohibits  the 
granting  of  temporary  exemptions  for  a  "period  beyond  thirty  days." 

14.  Temporary  exemptions  will  not  be  granted  for  the  purpose  of  al- 
lowing conscripts  to  hunt  up  evidence  of  disability.  If  proper  certifi- 
cates are  not,  presented  on  their  appearance  before  the  Examining  Board, 
the  action  of  the  Examining  Board  will  be  based  solely  on  the  opinion 
formed  from  personal  examination.  Certificates,  either  from  medical  offi- 
cers or  private  physicians,  unless  sustained  by  the  opinion  of  the  board, 
will  not  influence' its  action. 

15.  Temporary  exemptions  will  not  be  granted  in  cases  of  trivial  disa- 
bilily  or  of  a  temporary  nature,  in  which  recovery  can  be  as  satisfactorily 
accomplished  at  the  camp  of  instruction  as  at  their  places  of  residence. 

10.   Temporary  exemptions  are  not  to  be  granted  at  all,  except  in  cases 


of  acute  or  serious  disease  or  injury,  where  the  disability  is  probably  not 
permanent. 

17.  When  the  conscript,  by  reason  of  alleged  infirmity,  cannot  appeal 
before  the  board,  and  his  case  cannot  be  axamini  d  and  n  port  '1  apon  by 
a  medical  officer,  the  certificate  6f  the  local 'enrolling  offic.  r,  on  personal 
inspection,  aeeompanii d  by  a  physician's  certificate,  will  be  acropftofl  as 
a  satisfactory  reason  for  his  non-appearance. 

18.  In  the  examination  of  men,  not  subject  to  conscription,  for  accep- 
tance as  substitutes,  the  members  of  the  Examining  Board  for  Conscripts 
are  instructed  to  carefully  guard  the  interests  of  the  service,  not  only  by 
a  rigid  search  for  existing  disqualifying  defects,  but  by  the.  institution  of 
a  close  scrutiny  as  to  the  probability  of  the  future  developsienl  or  the 
reappearance  of  disabling  affections,  to  which  men  are  more  subject  in 
declining  life. 

19.  In  accordance  with  the  requirements  of  paragraph  VI  I,  Genera! 
Orders,  No.  141,  current  series,  A.  &  I.  G.  O.,  no  person  will  be  received 
as  a  substitute  who  does  not  meet  the  full  requirements  of  paragraph  43, 
Medical  Regulations. 

20.  The  decision  of  the  Examining  Board  for  Conscripts  is  final  against 
all  other  medical  tribunals,  except  the  action  taken  at  camps  of  instruc- 
tion, in  accordance  with  paragraph  II,  General  Ordete,  No.  107,  and  their 
own  revision,  as  authorized  in  Genera]  Orders  from  the  Adjutant  and  In- 
spector General's  department,  or  directed  by  the  Surgeon  (ieneral.  upon 
finding  the  causes  alleged  for  exemption,  in  the  Kecord  of  Consciipts,  to 
be  invalid. 

JAS.  A.  SEDDOX. 

Secretary  of  War. 


i--:C 


Hollinger  Corp. 
PH8.5 


